Mudslide, Flooding Fears As Rain Moves Into SoCal

After a record setting dry start to our water year, heavy rain is back in SoCal this week.

Light rain is falling for the Monday morning commute, with heavier and more widespread showers hitting the region as the day progresses. A flash flood watch goes into effect Monday at 4 p.m. and going though Tuesday night.

"We're seeing those pre-frontal showers," said NBC4 forecaster Shanna Mendiola. "Rain is expected to really pick up as we go into tonight."

The rain will pose particular danger to areas battered by last year's December wildfires, which burned hundreds of thousands of acres in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Those areas will be susceptible to flash floods and debris flows, especially Monday night into Tuesday, when rain will be at its heaviest, with anywhere between two and five inches expected to fall in the foothill and mountain areas.

"My concern is our newly formed burn scars will flood if we get more a .25" to .50" of rain an hour. With this type of system those amounts will be easy to get in the mountains," said NBC4 meteorologist Anthony Yanez.

Coastal, inland and valley areas are expected to receive one to two inches of rain, and the NWS also notes the possibility of thunderstorms.

The expected rainfall would be the most that the area has received since Feb. 17, 2017 when Los Angeles got 2.01 inches. In 2017, downtown Los Angeles experienced its driest March 1 through Dec. 31 since 1878, with only .69 of an inch of rainfall.

Rain amounts will vary, but most of us will receive .1" to 4" with 6 to18 inches of snow above 4,000 feet. A winter storm watch is also in effect for our mountains. Driving can be treacherous with west wind gusts up to 60 mph on the mountains with the snow.

To help residents prepare, the Los Angeles Fire Department will be providing sandbags at the following fire stations:

2 (Boyle Heights), CD 14 District Office, 2130 E. 1st. St., Los Angeles 90033
5 (Westchester/LAX Area), 8900 South Emerson Ave, (213) 485-6205
13 (Pico/Union area), 2401 W Pico Blvd, (213) 485-6213
18 (Granada Hills), Knollwood Country Club, 12024 Balboa Blvd, (818) 756-8618
19 (Brentwood), 12229 West Sunset Blvd, (310) 575-8519
21 (South Los Angeles), 1192 East 51st St, (213) 485-6221
23 (Palisades Highlands), 17281 Sunset Blvd, (310) 575-8523
24 (Shadow Hills/ Sunland), 9411 Wentworth St, (818) 756-8624
28 (Porter Ranch), 11641 Corbin Ave, (818) 756-9728
29 (Koreatown), 4029 W Wilshire Blvd, (213) 485-6229
36 (San Pedro), Peck Park - 560 N. Western Avenue, (310) 548-7580 (Dept. of Recs. & Parks)
38 (Wilmington), Banning Park, 1331 Eubank St, (310) 548-7538
41 (Hollywood Hills & Northwest), 1439 North Gardner, (213) 485-6241
42 (Eagle Rock), Council District 14 Office, 2035 Colorado Blvd., (323) 254-5195
43 (Palms), 3690 Motor Ave, (310) 840-2143
47 (El Sereno), 4575 Huntington Dr South, (213) 485-6247
70 (Northridge), 9861 Reseda Blvd, (818) 756-7670
71 (Bel Air, Beverly Glen, UCLA) 107 South Beverly Glen Blvd, (310) 575-8571
74 (Sunland/Tujunga), Council District 7 Office, 7747 Foothill Blvd, (818) 756-8674
77 (Sun Valley), 9224 Sunland Blvd, (818) 756-8677
84 (Woodland Hills), 21050 Burbank Blvd, (818) 756-8684
85 (Harbor City), Recreational Center, 24801 Frampton Ave, (310) 548-7585
85 (Harbor City), Normandie Recreation Center, 22400 S Normandie
86 (Toluca Lake), 4305 Vineland Ave, (818) 756-8686
88 (Sherman Oaks), 5101 North Sepulveda Blvd, (818) 756-8688
91 (Sylmar), Recreational Center, 14430 Polk St, (818) 367-5656
97 (Laurel Canyon/ Mulholland), 8021 Mulholland Dr, (818) 756-8697
98 (Pacoima), 13035 Van Nuys Bl, (818) 756-8698
106 (West Hills), 23004 Roscoe Blvd, (818) 756-8606
108 (Franklin Canyon), 12520 Mulholland Dr, (818) 756-8608